Gas generator



1 1930- F. D. HOFFMAN ET AL 1,742,992

GAS GENERATOR Filed May 7, 1928 2 sheqtarsheet. 1

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F. D..HOFFMAN ET AL GAS GENERATOR Filed May "7, 1928 2 smu -sheet 2 I I 3/ mm 26 a \&

INVENTOR5 fixed 0. Hoffman ATTORNEY,

Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES FRED D. HOFFMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, AND OTTO CLUSS, OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI PATENT OFFICE ASSIGNORS TO VETO CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI GAS GENERATOR Application filed May 7,

Our invention relates to furnaces and more particularly to means for controlling flow of combustion-supporting gases through the fire bowl of the furnace, the principal objects of the invention being to facilitate the passage of air through burning fuel, to increase the supply of combustion-supporting air, to de flect air heated by the fire in a furnace into contact with the burning fuel, to selectively control the movement of combustion-supporting gases for direct passage through the burning fuel or for deflection into the burning gases as desired, and to adjust a gas-control device for fitting in furnaces of various sizes.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention we have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a furnace equipped with a gas-controlllng device constructed in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the device, parts of which are broken away to illustrate interior construction.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the device illustrating a gas deflector in retracted and conduit closing position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the device on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5 5, Fig. 2. r

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of a supporting member and portions of the device engaged therewith for a swiveling movement on the line 66, Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

' The device will be described as installed in a conventional hot air furnace generally designated 1 and including a housing 2, a fire bowl 3, a combustion chamber 4;, a fuel supply door 5, an ash pit 6 and an outlet 7 for proclucts of combustion into the conduits that are connected with the chimney.

In the illustrated form of furnace, rotary grates 8 are adapted to support solid fuel, and air passes through the door 9 of the ash Serial No. 275,748.

having a horizontal portion 11 extending oliametrically across the fire bowl and a vertical portion 11 extending adjacent the wall of the combustion chamber, the body being supported in spaced relation with the grate from rib or flange portions such as 12 and 13, lying substantially in the plane of the upper face of the grate and comprising members normally found in furnaces.

The body includes arcuate flaring plates constituting wing members 14: and 15 having tapering sides which converge into a ridge and are spread to provide a horizontal chamber 16 and a vertical chamber 17, the lower face of the body being open to admit air fromthe ash pit into the chambers for passage ghrough perforations 18 into contact with the uel.

The back of the body is closed by a plate 19 7 having a curved upper end 20, the outer edge of which is spaced from the upper ends of the wing to provide a mouth 21 for outlet of gases passing through the chambers 16 and 17. The wings are connected by bolts 22 passing through cars 23 formed on the adjacent taper ing edges of the wings, and are attached to the back plate 19 by bolts 24 passing through cars 25 extending inwardly from the wings.

The front portion of the body is supported adjacent the door of the furnace from the flange 12 of the fire bowl by an adjusting member 26 slidable in a channel 27 produced by mating grooves in the wings, and trunnions 28 that slide in opposite parallel grooves 29 in the Wings, the trunnions bridging the air-admitting space between the flaring lower ends of the wings. The member 26 has a foot 30 adapted to rest on the flange 12' to space the forward end of the device from the grate. The adjusting member 26 is provided with ratchet teeth 31 in its upper edge, and a latch 32 on the body 11 comprising teeth extending downwardly from the forward edges of the wings engage the ratchet teeth to latch the body member of the device in engagement .with the adjusting support 26. The support 26 is provided to permit the adjustment of the device in furnaces having different diameters, the body being pivotal on the trunnions of the supporting member to release the teeth 7 33, one at each corner of the back plate 19,

and providedwith pins 34 extending into sockets 35 in bosses 36 on the lower corners of the back plate 19 and being rotatably retained in the sockets by recessed ears 37 extending laterally fromthe adjacent corners of the wings. The footing members 33 are,

.therefore, rotatable on vertical axes in relation to the body of the device, and adjustable to the curved walls of fire bowls having different degrees of curvature.

The deflecting arcuate top portion 20 of the back wall of'the device deflects heated air toward the combustion chamber. ther rovide a deflector 38 comprising a curve plate pivotally mounted on pins 39 supported by ears 40 on the outer edge of the body member 10 and having a depending latch finger 41 adapted to engage the upper edge 42 of the body (Figs. 1 and'2),'for restrainingthe deflector in positionto turn the heated gases downwardly in the combustion chamber toward the fuel that is burning.

The circumferential flange 43 on the outer edge of the deflector serves additionally to guide the heated air and prevent rapid outow upwardly toward the outlet 7 The pivot supporting ears 40 are preferably extended forwardly from the edge of the curved back portion 20 so that the deflector pivots on an axis substantially in the plane of the upstanding connected tapering edges of the wings.

The deflector has a rear leaf or flange 44,

and when it pivots to elevate the forward portion, the flangeengages the upper edge,

7 of the wings and thereby obstructs the outlet 21 andacts as a damper to limit the passage of gases upwardly through the chamber 17.

r The flange 44 seats in a notch 45in the curved end portion20 of the back wall when in a lowered position and, therefore, does not obstruct the passage of gases through'the chamber 17 and outlet 21.

The body is further provided with laterally extending prongs 46 formed on the flaring edges of the wings for supporting solid fuel particles. It is understood that the prongs will be substantially spaced from the sides of the fire bowl.

v In operating the. device the supporting members being assembled with the body, the device is inserted into a furnace and the forward supporting member pivoted in relation to the body and extended or telescoped suit-' ably for positioning the device diametrically of the fire bowlwiththe swiveling rest members 33 engaged with flanges in the rear part of the fire bowl and-the forward supporting We furmember engaged with supporting flanges ad= jacent the door of the furnace.

Any desired fuel may be used in a furnace so equipped and the perforate body member will distribute air passing through the ash pit to all portions of the gases arising from the burning fuel and into association with the fuel. a V r The body member 10 will conduct air. heated by the horizontal portion tobe de-' flected across the path of the burning gases and downwardly against the burning fuel, the heated air and particularly the heated oxygen being driven at considerable velocity and sub-' stantially increasing the efficiency of the combustion. I a

When a solid fuel-is used, the openings 18. further permit the discharge of ashes fro! the fuel that overlies the body.

When desired, the deflector may be pivoted and latched by gravity as described in vertical position to serve as a damper for closingthe discharge mouth of the conduit through the body whereby the air passing from the ash pit through the grate will be restrictedto passage through the perforationinto contact with the fuel and the gases immediately chamber, and a plate pivotally supported from the vertical conduit and adapted to close said vertical conduit to restrict air to passage through said perforations.

2. In a device for controlling combustionsupporting gases for conditioning the same,

a body member including arcuate perforate mated plates for positioning over a furnace grate and providing a chamber open to the grate to receive air PaSSIIIgfIOlTl the ,ash pit,

and a vertical conduit connected with F chamber, and means for deflecting air "forwardly into the path of products of com bustion including an arcuate plate pivotally supported from the vertical conduit and adapted to close said vertical conduit to restrict air to passage through said perforations. i i a.

3. In a device for controlling passage of combustion-supporting gases through a furnace fire bowl having horizontal flanges, a

hollow body member having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, means controlling flow of gases from the vertical portion, and

means for supporting the body from a flange V of the fire bowl including a ratchet member slidablein the horizontal portion and having a leg for spacing the body from the fire bowl flange.

l. In a device for controlling passage of combustion-supporting gases through a combustion chamber, a conduit positioned transversely of the combustion chamber for receiving said gases whereby the gases are heated by the heat in the combustion chamber, a vertical conduit communicating with said transverse conduit, adjustable means controlling the flow of gases from the vertical conduit, and means including a ratchet plate for supporting the conduits in spaced relation with the combustion chamber.

5. In a device for controlling passage of combustion-supporting gases throu h a furnace fire bowl having horizontal flanges, a hollow body member having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, means controlling flow of gases from the vertical portion, and means for supporting the body from a flange of the fire bowl including a ratchet member slidable in the horizontal portion, a tooth on the body member engageable with the ratchet to latch the body in position, and footing members mountable on a fire bowl flange and provided with swivel means for adjusting the footing members to the curvature of the bowl.

6. In a device for controlling passage of combustion-supporting gases through a furnace fire bowl having horizontal flanges, a hollow body member having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion means controlling flow of gases from the vertical portion, and means for suppporting the body from a flange of the fire bowl including a ratchet member slidable in the horizontal portion and having a leg for spacing the body from the fire bowl flange, a tooth 011 the body member engageable with the ratchet to latch the body in position, footing members mountable on a fire bowl flange and provided with swivel pins, and sockets in the vertical body portion receiving said pins for swiveling support of the vertical body portion from the bowl flange.

7. In a device of the character described, a hollow body member having an open bottom extending diametrically across the grate of the furnace to receive air passing from the ash pit, through the grate, a vertical conduit communicating with one end of the body member to receive the gases therefrom, and means for deflecting air from the conduit into the path of products of combustion.

8. In a device of the character described, a hollow body member having an open bottom extending diametrically across the grate of the furnace to receive air passing from the ash pit through the grate, a vertical conduit communicating with one end of the body member to receive the gases therefrom, means for deflecting air from the conduit into the path of products of combustion, and means for supporting the conduit from a ledge encircling the grate of the furnace.

9. In a device of the character described, a

hollow body member for conducting com bustion-supporting gases into a furnace, means for supporting the body member including an adjusting member slidable in the body member and means for latching the adjusting member in adjusted position.

10. In a device of the charcter described, a hollow body member for conducting combustion supporting gases into a furnace, means for supporting the body member including an adjusting member having ratchet connection with the body member, and footing members on the body member positioned oppositely of the adjusting member.

11. In a device of the character described, a hollow body member for conducting combustion supporting gases into a furnace and having spaced grooves, an adjusting member slidable in the body member and having trunnions receivable in the grooves of the body member, and tooth and ratchet connection between the members.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

FRED D. HOFFMAN. OTTO E. GLUSS. 

